ROME-Archbishop John J. Myers has been elected president of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, it was announced last week.

He will hold this post for a term of three years as he continues to serve as Archbishop of Newark. Archbishop Myers is an alumnus (class of 1967) of North American College.

Founded by the American bishops in 1859 at the request of Pope Pius IX, North American College serves as a residence and house of formation for U.S. seminarians and graduate students. Students pursue theological and related studies principally at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum).

North American College is home to roughly 160 Roman Catholic seminarians, as well as numerous faculty members and graduate students from across the United States, Canada and Australia.

Archbishop Myers was installed as Archbishop of Newark Oct. 9, 2001. Two years ago he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.